Outrage as Heartless Mom Sits on Endangered Tortoise, Laughing While the Struggling Creature Suffers

A TOURIST has sparked outrage after she was filmed squatting on an endangered tortoise and laughing as it struggled to escape from beneath her weight.

The incident, which took place at a in the city of Foshan, southern China on August 21, has sparked widespread outrage online.

Footage shows the woman perching on the poor animal with her daughter as the drags its body through the sand.

The woman laughs as it attempts to crawl away from beneath her, before encouraging her young son to come and join them.

The onlooker who recorded the incident told reporters that the woman appeared to “enjoy” the tortoise’s suffering.

Children were seen following suit and standing on the backs of other tortoises in the pen, according to reports.

The witness said: “The family kicked the tortoise and then stepped on it.”

They claimed that no member of staff tried to intervene, despite a notice at the site telling visitors not to step or sit on the .

The tortoise involved was a juvenile African spurred tortoise, also known as a Sulcata tortoise, which is native to the Sahara Desert.

It measured at around 40 centimetres in shell length, according to reports.

The species is the third-largest tortoise in the world and enjoys international protections – at least in theory.

Footage of the triggered widespread criticism online, with users accusing the mum of setting a bad example to her children.

One commenter wrote: “This is straight-up animal abuse! It breaks my heart to see the tortoise trying to escape but being completely unable to.”

Another said: “The son refused her invitation. That is a clear lesson given by a child to an unprincipled mother.”

Another questioned the park’s lack of action, writing: “Are the warning signs on site just for decoration?

“There are clearly massive loopholes in the park’s patrolling and supervision.”

Changlu Tourism and Leisure Park initially said it would the tortoise’s health and investigate any reports of lax management.

It later confirmed that the animal had undergone an examination and was found to be in good health.

The park said it would strengthen and ensure staff acted if similar behaviour recurred.

A tortoise’s shell is fused with its spine and ribs and also contains nerves and blood vessels.

Standing on top of its shell could cause hidden cracks, spinal injuries and even compression of the tortoise’s internal organs, the park warned.

The woman is not currently facing any repercussions.